Positions in this series
perform systems programming and implement, maintain and manage an agency's
systems software environment or major component of it. Incumbents write,
install and modify all types of systems software, evaluate new system software
offered by vendors and act as liaison with other of the agency's Information
Resources Management (IRM) professionals and vendors.

Information Technology
Specialists 4 (Systems Programming) act as lead programmers and supervise and
train Information Technology Specialists 3 (Systems Programming). Incumbents
perform advanced systems programming and implement, maintain and manage an
agency's systems software environment or major components of it. They write,
install and modify all types of systems software, evaluate new system software
releases by vendors and act as liaison with other of the agency's data
processing professionals, users and vendors.

- Works
with IRM staff to establish and control user identification codes.

- Develops
guidelines and rules to enhance the security system.

- Monitors
the use of the security system to detect violations.

In addition, as an Information Technology
Specialist 4 (Systems Programming):

Develops and maintains detailed technical
procedures for storage management, capacity planning, system accounting, change
control and system management.

Works with program, IRM staff and users to
ensure that system management activities are coordinated with the
implementation and operation of the agency's application programming systems.

Identifies and resolves system management
problems.

Acts as lead systems programmer responsible
for implementation of and technical support for specialized system software.

- Maintains
a high level of expertise in the implementation and use of compilers, code
generators, systems utilities, security software, advanced function printing,
real time systems, etc. and provides consultative services to application
programmers, operations staff and other users of such software.

- Analyzes
the operational environment into which specialized system software will be
integrated and develops technical procedures to accomplish the integration.

- Acts
as the primary liaison with vendors supporting specialized system software.

Information Technology
Specialists 3 (Systems Programming) work under administrative and technical
supervision from an Information Technology Specialist 4 (Systems Programming).
Positions in the latter class act as lead programmers and are responsible for
the more complex system programming projects for an agency.

Incumbents work with
considerable independence within the scope of their assignments. Their work
must conform to policy and technical standards set by agency and IRM top
management. Information Technology Specialists 3 (Systems Programming) have
access to Information Technology Specialists 4 (Systems Programming) for
technical advice and assistance. Direction is also available in the form of
policy directives, professional standards, and agency and vendor technical
manuals and procedural guides.

Information Technology
Specialists 4 (Systems Programming) usually work under supervision from a
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Systems Programming) or a Manager Information
Technology Services 1 (Technical). In some organizations, they work under
supervision from a Manager, M-3 level position.

Incumbents work with a great
deal of independence. Their work must conform to policy and technical
standards set by agency and IRM top management. Information Technology
Specialists 4 (Systems Programming) may obtain technical advice from their
supervisors, but usually rely for direction on policy directives, agency and
vendor technical manuals and procedural guides and professional standards.
Often, they are the agency's systems programming technical experts.

Information Technology
Specialists 3 and 4 (Systems Programming) are expected to be available during
off-shift hours to ensure continuous operation of computer services.

COMPLEXITY

The work of Information
Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Systems Programming) is complex and requires
specialized training and experience. Systems programming is a highly technical
specialty within the field of data processing. Hardware changes may require
changes in system software. Consequently, Information Technology Specialists
(Systems Programming) must continually modify system software to accommodate
change and to balance system activity for optimum effectiveness and
efficiency. In addition, their work requires interaction with users as well as
other IRM processing personnel.

The consequences of error or
neglect on the part of Information Technology Specialists 3 and 4 (Systems
Programming) are great, affecting the availability of some or all computer
services in the agency and affecting the work of users, applications
programmers, datebase programmers, data communications specialists and
operations personnel.

COMMUNICATION

Information Technology
Specialists 3 and 4 (Systems Programming) communicate verbally and in writing
with a variety of individuals including their supervisors, users, vendors and
other IRM staff. They communicate with IRM personnel verbally and in writing
during systems design, implementation and maintenance in order to produce
effective and efficient systems, and communicate verbally with end-users in
order to meet their needs. The purposes of their communications are to receive
and give assignments, to receive and convey technical information and,
ultimately, to meet user needs and meet the agency's performance standards for
systems availability. Their communications must be complete, accurate and
concise.

Information Technology
Specialists 4 (Systems Programming) usually exercise both technical and
administrative supervision over one to three Information Technology Specialists
3 (Systems Programming). If a position is the only systems programming
position in an agency, it may be classified as Information Technology
Specialist 4 (Systems Programming) with no subordinates. Technical supervision
exercised includes training. Administrative supervision exercised includes the
full range of such supervision, including performance evaluations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

For Information Technology Specialist 3 and
4 (Systems Programming) :

- Knowledge
of the hardware, software and their working relationships.

- Knowledge
of systems analysis and systems design.

- Knowledge
of programming and programming standards.

- Knowledge
of computer terminology.

- Knowledge
of operating systems/standards/utilities.

- Knowledge
of data structures.

- Knowledge
of security methods and procedures in a data processing environment.

- Knowledge
of testing and debugging techniques.

- Ability
to install, test and maintain system software and operating system products.

- Ability
to communicate technical information both orally and in writing.

- Ability
to think logically.

- Ability
to understand and act upon technical instructions.

For Information Technology Specialist 4
(Systems Programming):

- Knowledge
of supervisory principles and practices and the ability to implement them.

- Ability
to plan, coordinate and direct.

- Ability
to prepare technical training material.

- Ability
to conduct technical training.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

For Information Technology Specialist 3
(Systems Programming):

One year of permanent
competitive service as an Information Technology Specialist 2 or Information
Technology Specialist 2 (Programming).

For Information Technology Specialist 4
(Systems Programming):

One year of permanent
competitive service as an Information Technology Specialist 3 (Systems
Programming).

Revised: 9/07

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate
the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they
describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be
appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those
which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was
written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current
information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or
examination.